Company History

Leyard Optoelectronic Co., Ltd was founded in 1995, is headquartered in Beijing, China and is traded on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange (stock code: 300296).

Leyard is a global leader in the design, production, distribution, and service of digital displays, video walls, and visualization products worldwide. Leyard has gained significant market share in fine pitch LED and offers indoor, outdoor, fixed, and creative displays, as well as other ancillary and lighting solutions for the urban environment. Used in various applications, such as broadcast, sports arenas, stadiums, advertisement networks, retail digital signage, control rooms, exhibitions, large scale events and digital cultural experiences.

Planar Named One of Oregon’s Most Admired Technology Companies by the Portland Business Journal

Planar® DirectLight™ took home several awards in 2015. "Best of Show 2015 Award" for Sound and Video Contractor, Digital Signage Magazine and AV Technology. "Most Innovative Product 2015" by Sound and Video Contractor, "Best 2015 Digital Signage Hardware by Commercial Integrator as well as "Best Indoor Display for DSE" by rAVe

Clarity® Matrix™ also won several awards. "12 Impact Products of the Year" by Commercial Integrator and the DIGI award for “Best New Display Device, Large Screen”

Planar® LookThru™ OLED Transparent display won the “Best of ISE 2015 Award” by rAVe and other awards

Planar UltraRes Series won the DIGI Award for “Best 4K Display Device”

Planar features largest Corning® Gorilla Glass® cover glass in its Planar® UltraRes™ Touch with ERO™ (Extended Ruggedness and Optics™) in collaboration with eBay Inc and Corning at the Consumer Electronics Show and launches product offering at the Digital Signage Expo

Product Launches & News:

Planar announces the first commercial 4k/Ultra High Definition display, the Planar® UltraRes™ series for professional corporate and signage applications

Planar announces the Clarity® LED3 Series rear projection display line for lower power consumption for seamless video walls and expands the Planar® Indisys™ processing architecture with the announcement of Planar® Indisys™ Extensity™

Leyard selected by NBC Universal for national football league championship game set

2012

Leyard listed on Shenzhen Stock Exchange.

Planar announced the industry leading Planar® Mosaic™ Architectural Video Walls that allow for interesting and non-rectangular arrangements of video tiles in a variety of shapes and sizes, including the industry’s first perfectly square architectural video tile. The award-winning Clarity® Matrix™ product line expands to include a high-bright version delivering the industry’s brightest LCD video wall system, the HX60 featuring off-board processing and power supplies for reliability and serviceability, along with extensions to the new PS-Series of digital signage displays. Planar launches the WeatherBright™ line of outdoor, high-bright displays for quick serve restaurant, amusement parks, and wayfinding applications.

Our pioneering efforts in transparent displays continued with the announcement of a new solution for the display of merchandise and information, the Planar® LookThru™ display box which features a 32" diagonal, full-color transparent LCD perfect for retail, museums, and other applications.

2011

Planar had another year of industry firsts releasing the first 22" full-HD (high definition) projected capacitive touchscreen monitor, the ClearTouch™.

Planar extends the leadership of the Clarity® Matrix™ line with the announcement of a passive 3D version for simulation and visualization markets and launches the Planar® PS Series of commercial flat panel displays for digital signage.

2010

Leyard demonstrates 2.5mm and 3.1mm pitch LED displays. Leyard produces the world’s first LED panel television. The Runco 3Dimension series projectors were introduced to amazed dealers and customers as the premiere projection system for 3D content.

2009

The new Clarity Matrix LCD video walls brought a whole new solution to market: tiled displays with an industry-leading seamlessness.

2008

Leyard designs and provides rolling scroll and iconic five Olympic Rings for opening ceremony of the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympic Games.

2007

Planar acquires Runco International, accelerating its presence in the global custom home theater market. Known worldwide for producing the world’s finest home theater products, Runco has been a leading brand in the high-end, custom home theater market for the past two decades, and has developed some of the industry’s most advanced home theater solutions, such as CineWide™ and VideoXtreme™ HD projection equipment.

2006

The acquisition of privately-held Clarity Visual Systems gives Planar access to two additional specialty display markets: Command and Control and the fast growing Digital Signage market. Clarity had been a leading provider of command and control digital displays and digital signage hardware and software systems for wide-ranging applications. Clarity becomes the brand designator for a range of video wall products that continue to set the standard for innovation and reliability.

Leyard designs and provides architectural lighting system for China World Trade Center in Beijing.

2005

Planar continues to generate significant cash flows adding $35M to the cash balance during the year. Toward the end of 2005, the company brings on new leadership focused on driving shareholder value by hiring a new President and CEO, Gerry Perkel and a new CFO, Scott Hildebrandt.

Planar introduces the Dome E4c, the first medically certified 4-Megapixel Color Diagnostic Imaging Display designed for use in areas such as radiology, cardiology, nuclear medicine (NM), positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT), dermatology and the OR.

2004

Glux offered visual effects technology for the CCTV Spring Festival Gala. Weathering unprecedented volatility in component supply and pricing, Planar’s commercial business achieves $122 million in sales during the fiscal year and solidifies its rank as the ninth largest flat-panel monitor provider in North America.

Runco acquires Vidikron and Project-A-Vision brands, laying the foundation for massive expansion of company and revenue stream through far broader distribution and greatly expanded product line and product categories.

2001

The fiscal year begins with the launch of the line of Planar-branded commercial desktop monitors, available in three sizes and five colors from leading online retailers.

2000

Planar enters the new fiscal year with the appointment of Balaji Krishnamurthy as president and CEO.

1999

Leyard launches large, custom LED for 50th anniversary of PRC celebrations. Leyard demonstrates first and largest 256-color outdoor LED in the Dalian People Sports Plaza.

1998

Leyard develops the LEYARD2000 integrated circuit for LED display control. Planar Launches line of medical monitors, which quickly gain acceptance in the market. Leyard production plant becomes ISO 9001 certified.

1995

Leyard founded in Beijing China.

1993

Initial public offering of Planar Systemc, Inc. on the NASDAQ exchange, under the symbol PLNR.

1991

Planar expands into European market by acquiring FINLUX, an EL manufacturer in Espoo, Finland, with technological expertise in the atomic layer deposition (ALD) process. Runco introduces the world's first aspect ratio controller, one of the most significant milestones in the history of Home Theater.

1990

1986

Runco International is founded by Sam and Lori Runco, and launches a brand-new projector, the Runco International HT, ushering in the era of home theater.

1983

Planar Systems founded by Jim Hurd, Chris King and John Laney. Acquires electroluminescent (EL) rights from Tektronix and becomes the first U.S. manufacturer of commercial EL displays. Establishes headquarters and first manufacturing plant in Beaverton, Oregon.